Rebekah Paerels CLASS Valedictorian

Posted on May 13, 2020

Rebekah Paerels is the co-valedictorian for the 2020 graduating class of the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences. Rebekah is receiving her BA in English Applied Language Studies. We asked Rebekah to reflect on her time at Cal Poly Pomona, her plans for the future, and what has inspired her. Read her Q&A to get to know your 2020 CLASS Valedictorian!

Q: What was your most memorable experience at Cal Poly Pomona?

A:It’s actually really hard to pinpoint just one since since I’ve made so many great memories in the past four years. I think my most memorable moments have been those where I had the opportunity to travel while representing Cal Poly Pomona. Two years ago, I traveled with the CPP Roller Hockey teams to Nationals in Fargo, ND, for the first time, where I got to represent Cal Poly Pomona as both Division 4 Assistant Captain and as the only female skater in attendance at the event, which was really gratifying! And then last summer, I had the chance to study abroad at the University of Ulsan in South Korea, where I was the only student representing our university (and all of California, for that matter). That trip was certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it’s influenced a lot of my career plans for the future! These were memories that I would never have made if it weren’t’t for the opportunities provided to me by Cal Poly Pomona, and I will always be so grateful for that.

Q: What are your plans after Cal Poly Pomona?

A:After getting my BA in English, Applied Language Studies at Cal Poly, I’m planning to go straight into grad school to get my master’s degree in Linguistics. I haven’t finalized where I’m going just yet, but I’m currently leaning towards the MA program at Cal State Long Beach. I enjoy getting to conduct research, and I’m excited to continue doing so as a grad student! I’m hoping to explore my career options further while in grad school, but I’m interested in teaching abroad for at least a year after getting my master’s. What comes after that, I can’t say for sure, but I’m looking forward to broadening my scope of interest and finding new opportunities for my future!

Q: Who inspires you and why?

A:I think I have to go with my mom! She’s been a beacon of endless support and love my entire life, and she’s the person I turn to for advice when I’m struggling. She pushes me to always put my best effort into my academics. She also reminds me to still take time to better myself mentally and emotionally, which I think is something that a lot of people tend to lose sight of. Her love is unconditional, and I know she’ll continue to support me no matter what I choose for my future. She’s one of the most optimistic people in my life, and I’m so lucky to have a mother like her!

I also have to add that, aside from my mom, I take a lot of inspiration and motivation from my favorite band, BTS. Their music—which touches on topics like the transience of youth, chasing your dreams, and learning to love yourself—is what I usually turn to for comfort. In the six years, I’ve been listening to them, they’ve constantly motivated me to always strive for my version of success, a future I can make for myself, and I think that’s really kept me going even through the greatest of challenges.

Q: What words do you have for your peers graduating?

A: Our graduation experience is so insanely far from normal, and I don’t think that’s something we can, or should, ignore. I don’t really want to sugarcoat it and try to instill false optimism, because I know how difficult this is for all of us, to one degree or another. It’s okay if you feel like you lost out on something this year. It’s okay if you’re worried about getting a job after graduation. It’s okay if you really struggled to finish this last semester. Allow yourself that grief. But if you can, don’t allow yourself to dwell on it for too long. When you’re ready, move past that anger and sadness, give yourself a moment to breathe, and then allow yourself to celebrate the amazing achievements you’ve made by still graduating. I’m so proud of every single 2020 graduate, and I sincerely hope you are all proud of yourselves as well! Congratulations everyone!

Q: How has your experience at Cal Poly Pomona shaped the person you are today?

A:It’s difficult to encapsulate all of the ways that being a part of the Cal Poly Pomona community has shaped me as an individual. There are certainly ways that being at CPP has changed my plans for the future. If it weren’t’t for the wonderful professors in the English department (especially Dr. Griswold!), I’m not sure if I would have ever discovered my passion for linguistics, which has definitely altered my goals for grad school and my career. I also don’t know where I’d be without all of the relationships I’ve formed in my time at Cal Poly Pomona. I’ve made connections that I hope will last a lifetime, and I’m so grateful for the positive influence that my friends, classmates, coworkers, and professors have had on me. I’m sad to be leaving, but I know that Cal Poly Pomona will always be a part of my journey, and that I’ll always be proud to be a Bronco.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

A:Best wishes to everyone this fall, no matter your plans! Please continue to stay safe, take precautions, and stay inside as much as possible! Each and every one of us has a responsibility not only to ourselves but to those around us as well. With any luck, I hope to see everyone at commencement sometime this year or next! Congrats again, Class of 2020!